Heat sealling capping apparatus



Dec. 13, 1966 E. E. GEBER HEAT SEALING CAPPING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1964 N vi f-Z Ivm/e/nww gg u qene E. eber- Dec. 13, 1966 E. E. GEBER HEAT SEALING CAPPING APPARATUS I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1964 ,msayz,

fzyene Geer 31 yww m+ww il/W Ill/ Dec. 13, 1966 E. E. GEBER HEAT SEALING CAPPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1964 United States Patent 3,290,863 HEAT SEALING CAPPKNG APPARATUS Eugene Edmond Geber, Rockford, 11]., assignor to Anderson Bros. Mfg. (10., Rockford, Ill, a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 348,170 8 Claims. ((31. S3360) This invention relates to a container capping apparatus. The apparatus has a normally resilient elastomeric crimpin-g member made from material such as rubber, which, with the aid of heat, applies a lid or cap to a container by crimping the edges of the cap around the lip of the container while heat sets the cap to the lip. One of the problems encountered in an apparatus of the type described is that the crimping member, which is deformable to crimp the edges of the cap around the lip of the container, tends to take a set upon application of heat with the result that the deformed member does not return to its normal configuration and releases the capped container.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved container capping apparatus of the type described.

It is another object of this invention to provide a con tainer capping apparatus using heat and having a resilient crimping material to heat-seal a cap to a container with an improved means to release capped containers from such apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container capping apparatus using heat and a resilient crimping material to heat-seal a cap to a container with means to forcibly return the heat-set crimping material to its normal configuration after its operable deformation.

A further object of this invention is to provide such forcible means as aforesaid by taking advantage of the apparatus operative return motion otherwise lost, and, thereby advantageously economizing in motion, parts, and material costs otherwise encounterable to return the heatset crimping member to its normal configuration.

It is yet a further object of this invention to effect the aforesaid objects by means of a reciprocating yoke operable to bring a container into engagement with movable capping elements and thereafter forcibly return the capping elements for a subsequent container capping operation.

Further and additional objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description as well as the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a top view showing a container capping apparatus associated with cup dispensing, cup filling and cap dispensing apparatuses.

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the container capping apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus along lines 33 of FIG. 2 showing capping components in cross section.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along the lines 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional View along lines 55 in FIG. 3 showing portions of the yoke mounted in the frame and the cam mounting.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the heater, thermostatic, and head member assemblies for forming and heat sealing a cap to a container.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with parts out away illustrating the operative motion of the apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the container capping apparatus.

In general, the apparatus includes a frame, a normally resilient crimping member held by the frame, means to apply heat to heat-seal a cap to a container, and means to deform the crimping member around the lip of the con- "ice filled with materials such as jellies or other foodstuffs under filling apparatus 24, and, thereafter, are moved under cap dispenser 26 where they individually receive a lid or cap blank conveniently made of waxed paper or the like. The cups next move under container capping apparatus 30 where the caps are heat-sealed to the containers. Linkage .28 between the container capping apparatus 30 and the cap dispenser 26 conveniently synchronizes the operative motions between the two. Subsequently the capped containers are deflected from the circular cup carrier by deflector 31.

Any suitable method of mounting container capping apparatus 30 may be employed, and the adjustable fastener 32 best seen in FIG. 2 may be advantageously employed to mount the apparatus to table mount 34.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 7, container capping apparatus 30 comprises a stationary frame generally indicated by the numeral 44. Frame 44 includes a vertical frame element 46 and a horizontal flange portion 48 fastened thereto by fastener 50. A housing portion 52, hereinafter more particularly described, is affixed to the flange portion by means of fasteners 54 (FIG. 2).

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, housing portion 52 supports elastomeric or resilient crimping member 68. Head member 60 heat assembly 74, heat conducting element 76, and thermostatic assembly 78 are mounted on the crimping member 68 for axial movement with respect to member 68. More particularly, the head member includes an anvil portion 62 with a shank 63 threadedly engaged to a base portion 64. Heater assembly 74, which is energized through conductors 69, 69, has an aperture 74a (FIG. 6) therethrough to receive the shank 63 of anvil portion 62 by which means the heater assembly is threadedly held between the portions 62 and 64. Moreover, the base portion 64 has a lower annular flange 66 by which means it engages annular recess in the crimping member 68. Said crimping member is provided with annular collar portion 72 which seats in annular recess 73 in housing portion 52. Ring-shaped heat conducting element 76 is slidably mounted on base portion 64 and held between the lower surface of the heater assembly and the upper surface of the crimping member. Lastly, thermostatic assembly 78, having conductors 79, 79, is threadedly engaged into the anvil portion. It may therefore be readily seen that these assemblies may be dismantled for maintenance purposes by unthreading assembly 78 and base portion 64 from anvil portion 62.

It will be evident for an apparatus as aforedescribed that heat will pass from the heater assembly through the heat conducting element and into the base portion of the head member against which portion a. container having a cap blank thereon may be moved. When the container is forcibly moved against the base portion, the resilient crimping member will in general be deformed upwardly and its depending shoulder 70 will move inwardly thereby turning the edges of a cap around the lip of the container. Coincidental with such deformation, heat is applied to base portion64, and, crimping member 68, being engaged to portion 64 and supporting heat conducting element 76, is subjected to the heat. Upon being subjected to the heat, crimping member tends to take a heat-set in its deformed configuration which prevents the capped container from properly releasing. Such a deformed crimping member may be seen by reference to FIG. 7, and, yoke 84 may advantageously be used to forcibly return the crimping member to its normal configuration.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 7, yoke 84 includes a piston portion 86, a lower sleeve portion 88 connected to the piston portion 86, first and second cross arms 90 and 92, the vertical sleeve portion 94. The piston portion 86 is assembled into vertical frame element 46 of frame 44, and, fastened to lower sleeve portion 88 by means of pin 98. The piston and lower sleeve portions are slidable in sleeve bearings 100, 102 and 164 and said portions are biased downwardly by helical spring 106 compressively engaged against bearing 102 and the upper end of lower sleeve portion 88. Vent holes 87, 87 (FIGS. 4 and 5) are provided in an intermediate portion of element 46 to equalize pressure between the upper and lower chambers thereof when portions 86 and 88 are operating. Cross arm 93 extends perpendicular from piston portion 86 and has a split end that embraces the piston portion 86 and is clamped thereto by fastener 168. Similarly, cross-arm 22, extending parallel to cross-arm 90, has a split end that embraces the lower sleeve portion 88 and is clamped thereto by means of fastener 112. Vertical sleeve portion 94 extends oppositely and parallel to piston portion 86 and the arm 90 has a split end that embraces the sleeve portion 94 and is clamped thereto by means of fastener 110. Thermostatic assembly 7 8 moves independently with respect to the vertical sleeve portion 94 and therefore yoke 34 may perform a vertical reciprocating motion with respect to frame 44- and components supported on frame housing portion 52. Conductors 79, 79 are connected in series with heater assembly 74 conductors 69, 69, and, the conductors may advantageously be plugged into a suitable heat recording device (not illustrated) to effect the series connection.

The aforesaid reciprocating motion is conveniently effected by a cam and follower arrangement. As best shown in FIG. 3, a slot 118 is provided in the vertical frame element 46. A guidepost 120, and a follower 122 are mounted on piston portion 86, the lg uidepost being slidable in the slot thereby preventing the yoke from rotational movement in the frame. Fastener 12l1 secures the follower to the guidepost, and fastener 123 secures the guidepost to piston portion 86 (FIG. 5).

A cam means, FIGS. 3, 5, 7 and 8, imparts reciprocating motion to the yoke. Cam 132 is secured to the frame by means of fastener assembly 134, and, a reciprocating arm 136, connected to a power supply (not illustrated) actuates the cam in timed relation with the indexing of the carrier 22. Follower 122, moving over the cam track, is urged upwardly or downwardly as the cam moves clockwise or counter-clockwise, and reciprocating motion to the yoke is thereby imparted. More particularly, cam 132 (FIG. 3) is configured with an arcuate portion 132a and a lobe portion 132k. Follower 122 is urged downwardly by spring 106 to rest on the edge of portion 132a when the apparatus is in a rest position as seen in FIG. 3. As cam 1132 is rotated clockwise bringing the edge of lobe portion 13% into engagement with the follower, the follower thereby abruptly raises the yoke bringing vertical sleeve portion 94 out of engagement with anvil portion 62 as in FIG. 7.

Cam fastener assembly (FIG. 4) includes a bolt 138 and lock Washer 140 which secures sleeve 142 and brass washer 144 including cam 132 to vertical frame element 46. Brass washer 148 may be employed between element 46 and cam 132. Sleeve 142 is journaled to sleeve bearing 146 thereby allowing the cam to move clockwise and counter-clockwise.

Reference may now be had to FIGS. 3 and 7 to further understand the operation of the container capping apparatus. FIG. 3 illustrates the apparatus in a normal or rest position. In this position, helical spring 106, in cooperation with the position of the cam, urges the yoke downwardly, Container 150 and cap 151, supported on container supporting assembly 152, are in a position to receive a capping operation. The cam, rotated clockwise and acting on follower 122 mounted on the yoke, urges the yoke to an upward position thereby driving the container against the under surface of the base portion 64. The base portion, urged upwardly by the container, deforms the crimping member, forcing shoulder 70 inwardly thereby turning the edges of the cap around the lip of the container. Heat is applied from the heater assembly through heat conducting element 76 to the base portion which thermally sets the cap to the lip. The operative upward position of the yoke may be seen in FIG. 7, and in this position vertical sleeve portion 94 is out of engagement with anvil portion 62. After the capping operation has been performed, the crimping member has tended to take a heat-set in its deformed configuration as a aforedescribed, and, is forcibly returned to its normal configuration by a descent of vertical sleeve portion 94 which strikes anvil portion 62, thereby moving the head member, heater assembly, heat conducting element, and crimping member back to their rest position. As crimping member 52 is forced back to its rest position, shoulder 70 moves outwardly releasing the capped container.

The descent of the yoke is occasioned by cam 132 rotating in a counter-clockwise manner whereby spring 106 urges the yoke downwardly. It is evident therefore that the return motion of the yoke is advantageously used to provide a striking effect to the capping elements thereby utilizing lost motion with consequent economizing in motion, parts, and material cost to return the capping elements into a proper rest position.

While an embodiment of this invention has been described and illustrated, it is understood, of course, that the invention is not so restricted, since modifications may be made and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, that any such modifications as fall within the true spirit of the scope of this invention are therefore covered.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for heat sealing a cap to a container comprising, a frame, a normally resilient crimping member peripherally held by the frame, means to apply heat to heat-seal the cap to the container, and means to deform the crimping member around the lip of container while the heat is applied and thereafter forcibly return to the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration.

2. An apparatus for heat-sealing a cap to a container comprising, a frame, a normally resilient crimping member peripherally held by the frame and having a depending crimping shoulder adapted to deform inwardly and thereby turn the edges of the cap around the lip of the container, means to apply heat to heat-seal the cap to the container, a head member operable to deform the shoulder inwardly while the heat is applied and thereafter forcibly return the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration.

3. An apparatus for heat sealing a cap to a container comprising, a frame, a normally resilient crimping member peripherally held by the frame and having a depending crimping shoulder adapted to deform inwardly and thereby turn the edges of the cap around the lip of the container, a heater assembly to apply heat to heat-seal the cap to the container, and a head member for supporting the heater assembly and operable to deform the shoulder inwardly while the heat is applied, said head member having a base portion engaged to the crimping member and for transmitting the heat form the heater assembly to the edges of the cap and lip of the container and an anvil portion adapted to actuate the head member to forcibly return the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration.

4. An apparatus for heat sealing a cap to a container comprising, a frame, a normally resilient crimping member peripherally held by the frame, means to apply heat to heat-seal the cap to the container, a head member 0perable to deform said crimping member around the lip of the container while the heat is applied and thereafter forcibly return the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration, and reciprocating means to actuate the head member.

5. An apparatus for heat sealing a cap to a container comprisin' a frame, a normally resilient crimping member peripherally held by the frame, means to apply heat to heat-seal the cap to the container, a head member operable to deform said crimping member around the lip of the container While the heat is applied and thereafter forcibly return the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration, a reciprocating yoke having a container supporting portion positioned below the crimping member and a striking portion positioned above the head member, and means to impart a reciprocating move ment to the yoke whereby motion in one direction forces the container on the container supporting portion into engagement With the crimping member while the heat is applied and a return motion forces the striking portion into engagement with the head member to forcibly return the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration.

6. An apparatus for heat-sealing .a cap to a container comprising, a frame, a normally resilient crimping member peripherally held by the frame and having a depending crimping shoulder adapted to deform inwardly and thereby turn the edges of the cap around the lip of the container, means to apply heat to heat-seal the cap to the container, a head member operable to deform the shoulder inwardly while the heat is applied and thereafter forcibly return the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration, a reciprocating yoke having a container supporting portion positional below the crimping member and a striking portion positioned above the head member, and means to impart a reciprocating movement to the yoke whereby motion in one direction forces the container on the container supporting portion into engagement with the crimping member during application of the heat, and a return motion forces the striking portion to move the head member to forcibly return the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration.

7. An apparatus for heat sealing a cap to a container comprising, a frame, a normally resilient crimping member peripherally held by the frame and having a depending shoulder adapted to deform inwardly and thereby turn the edges of the cap around the lip of the container, a heater assembly to apply heat to heat-seal the cap to the container, a head member for supporting the heater assembly and operable to deform the shoulder inwardly while the heat is applied, said head member having a base portion and an anvil portion, the base portion engaged to the crimping member and operable for transmitting the heat from the heater assembly to the cap and lip of the container, a reciprocating yoke having a container supporting portion positioned below the crimping member and a striking portion positioned above the anvil portion, and means to impart a reciprocating movement to the yoke whereby motion in one direction forces the container on the container supporting portion into engagement with the crimping member during application of the heat and return motion forces the striking portion to move the anvil portion to forcibly return the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration.

8. An apparatus for heat sealing a cap to a container comprising, a frame, a normally resilient elastomeric crimping member peripherally held by the frame and having a depending crimping shoulder adapted to deform inwardly and thereby turn the edges of the cap around the lip of the container, a heater assembly, a head member for supporting the heater assembly and operable to deform the shoulder inwardly, the head member having an anvil portion and a base portion, the base portion engaged to the crimping member, a heart conducting element in contact with the heater assembly and base portion whereby heat is transmitted to the base portion and crimping member, a reciprocating yoke having a con tainer supporting portion positioned below the crimping member and a striking portion positioned above the anvil portion, and means to impart a reciprocating movement to the yoke whereby motion in one direction forces the container on the container supporting portion into engagement with the orimpin-g member while the heat is applied, and a return motion forces the striking portion to move the anvil portion to forcibly return the heat-set crimping member to its normal configuration.

No references cited.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 290, 863 December 13, 1966 Eugene Edmond Geber It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 46, for "return to the" read return the line 68, for "form" read from column 5, line 34, for "positional" read positioned Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SW'IDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR HEAT SEALING A CAP TO A CONTAINER COMPRISING, A FRAME, A NORMALLY RESILIENT CRIMPING MEMBER PERIPHERALLY HELD BY THE FRAME, MEANS TO APPLY HEAT TO HEAT-SEAL THE CAP TO THE CONTAINER, AND MEANS TO DEFORM THE CRIMPING MEMBER AROUND THE LIP OF CONTAINER WHILE THE HEAT IS APPLIED AND THEREAFTER FORCIBLY RETURN TO THE HEAT-SET CRIMPING MEMBER TO ITS NORMAL CONFIGURATION. 